Julius Randle Declares For NBA Draft

UK freshman forward Julius Randle is leaving school after one season and will enter his name in the upcoming NBA draft

Credit UK Athletics

Kentucky forward Julius Randle will leave after one season to enter the NBA draft, where he is expected to be among the top five selections.

With five days left before the deadline for underclassmen to declare, the 6-foot-9 Dallas native announced the decision many expected even before he arrived as part of Kentucky's best recruiting class ever. Projected as a lottery pick from the outset, Randle solidified his draft stock by leading Kentucky (29-11) to the NCAA final behind a string of double-doubles despite being double- and triple-teamed.

Randle averaged 15.0 points and 10.4 rebounds and was voted to The Associated Press' All-America second team. With Tuesday's announcement, he joins guard James Young, who said last week that he would enter the June 26 draft.